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Book Review of Dear Penelope

Dear Penelope
Dear Penelope
Author: Sharon Ihle
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
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This is an imaginative and amusing book from the witty pen of Sharon Ihle. Lucy Preston thinks she is on her way to her destiny in Emancipation, Wyoming. Instead, she narrowly misses a date with the undertaker when a angry bull takes a strong disliking to Lucy's hat and person. Our heroine escapes with the assistance of the owner of the Pearly Gates Saloon, Sebastian Cole.

Disappointed by the absence of her fiance, Charlie White, at the train depot, Lucy sets out to find him. She is shocked to find that Charlie has a new fiance, Cherry. Profoundly upset, Lucy doesn't have enough funds to make it back home (Kansas City).

Lucy heads to see the only other person she knows in town -- saloon-keeper, Sebastian. It doesn't take her long to talk the man into a job as a hostess in the saloon. As added insurance, Lucy also takes a part-time job setting type at a down-on-its-luck newspaper.

Readers quickly learn that Lucy has not found her niche in life. There are no boots she can miss tripping over (including her own) while carrying a tray full of beer and other spirits. If it weren't for Lucy's winning personality with his customers, Sebastian could hardly afford to keep this accident-waiting-to-happen.

It's not hard to imagine how good Lucy is at setting type for the newspaper. However, Lucy's kindly boss decides to let Lucy try her hand at helping readers with problems -- in print. 'Dear Penelope' is an instant hit. But there is trouble on the horizon; Lucy's family is aware she did not marry Charlie and they are not happy she is working in a saloon.

Loving her first taste of success and independence, Lucy is horrified that her family will drag her back to Kansas. She asks Sebastian to marry her for a month. And then the fun begins....